Centrifugal governor device



Jan. 1195 s. WALLAQE CENTRIFUGAL GOVERNOR DEVICE Filed Nov. 22, 1946 INVENTQOR. jlan/ey Wa/knce BY W 19/3/7 Patented Jan. 24, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GENTRIFUGAiiZZfILLNQR DEVICE Stank?! Wallace, Des Plaines, Ill.

AnnlicationJNovombor 2 1 946.. Serial; No. 71.1...495

.5 Claims. 1 c

This invention is concerned with a centrifugal governor device of the type which employs a number of balls con ained in a h using coasting with a. rotating member, the balls being adep to move radially outwardly to displace an axially movable spring-biased operating element in accordance with predetermined speeds or the .rototing member. moving such element from a normal to its actuated position for th purpose of operative'ly afiecting desired control means as a function of the. rotatlonof the rotating member. 1

The principal object oi the. invention is to p ovide. a reliabl operating governor of the above intimated type. which is distinguished by a s rum tux-a1 and functional simplicity and turnishcs new control means f r determining the'centrifual esponse of the fiy-bells.

A further object is to furnish a. governor equipped with a reversible base or mounting member operatin in the nature of. an adapter f r coaction either with a r tating shaft or with a rotating member having a suriace which ex= ten s in a radial plane.

Still another object is directed to the strun tural simplification. novel. arrangement and co action of parts aimed at reduction of marin factoring costs, and therewith reduction of cost of the finished article.

These and other objects and features will ap pear from the detailed description of certain embodiments of the invention. which is presented below with reference o thQaGQQmPa/X W ing drawing. In this drawing,

Fig. 1 show at the right of the median center line an elevational top view of an embodiment of the new governor and at the left of th'emedian center lin a view of the interior with part of the casing or housing removed;

Fig. 2 illustrates an elevatioual side view of, the new overnor mounted on a rotating memher having a surface extending in a radial plane, with parts of the rotating member in section. and also illustrates control means in the form of electrical switch Contact springs;

Fig. 3 is. a view corresponding to Fig. 2. but showing the new governor in connection with a rotating member made in the form of a shaft;

Fi 4 represents a section through the governor ShOWiIlg its parts in normal or inoperative position, as. seen approximately along lines F4 in Fig- 1;

Fig. 5 shows a ection illustrating the ports of the governo in. operated position. as seen anproxlmatelv al ng lines 5-5 in (Fig. 1; and

Figs. 5 and '7 indicate modifications through the medium of simplified operating diagrams.

The new governor may be used for widely different purposes, e. g., to regulate the Spe d of numerous devices, including motors, rotating members associated with machine tools, etc., etc. It is. assumed, for the sake of giving an example, that the governor shown in Figs. 1-5 controls the operation of a switching or contact device for the purpose of overning h cir ui f. an electrical motor. The motor may, for example, be assumed to operate initially over a socalled starter circuit, including normally closed switch cont c s- The function of h vernor s in such case to switch the electrical connections from the starter to the operating or running circuit when the motor has attained a certain Like parts are numbered alike throughout the drawing.

The new governor shown in the drawing com,- priscs a rcular. ne a y up shaped casing H. The casing is pressed or punched out of llitable material, e. .g., of metal, and is enlarged at its bottom to form the rim 12. which in turn lorms an interior circular bottom recess l3, for receivin the edge of the disk-like member I4 which constitutes the previously mentioned reversible mounting member of the device. In its upper part the wall of the casing l l extends angularly to form a slope in the shape of the Irustum of a cone, as shown at 15, terminating at the top in a radially inwardly extending annular section I6 forming a central opening ll. The angle of the slo ing Wall l5 may be approximately 15. Portions of the material of the casing are punched or pressed out to form screw bosses, e. g., such as shown at I8 and I 9 which are transposed at Three or more bosses may be provided if desired.

The disk-like reversible mounting member M is Dressed 01' punched out from a. suitable sheet material to form a central axially projecting tubular extension 20 and screw sockets or bosses, e. is such as shown at 2| and 22, for coaction with the bosses l8, l9 formed in the casin Wall. In the assembled device, the peripheral edge of the disk-like mounting member lies in the annular o om r ss l3 formed in the ircular casin H. as shown in Figs. 4 and and i s screw s ckets 217 22 are d sp d in a i l ali nmont with the scr w b sses w lt formed in the inclined or sloping casing well I 5.

The mounting member I4 is disposed, with the tubular extension 20 and with the screw sockets 3 2I-22 inside the structure, as shown in Figs. 2, 4 and 5, when the governor is mounted on a rotating member having a flat radially extending surface as is assumed in these figures, the rotating member being diagrammatically indicated in Fig. 2 in fraction and marked by numeral 25. The position of the disk-like mounting member is reversed with the tubular extension 23 and the screw sockets 2 [-22 outside when the governor is mounted on a rotating member made in the form of a shaft or the like, as is assumed in Fig. 3, a portion of the shaft being shown and indicated by numeral 26. The reversed position of the tubular extension 26 and the sockets 2I- 22 is indicated in Figs. 4 and in dotted lines.

ernor firmly in engagement and rotatable therewith. Nuts 29-30 may be used when the governor is mounted on a rotating shaft, as shown in Fig. 3, and in this case the tubular extension now projecting to the outside may be provided with a reinforcing sleeve or the like and may be firmly attached to the shaft 26 by any suitable means, for example, a screw (not shown).

The tubular extension 26 of the disk-like The radial ribs such as 45-46 disposed between the ball sockets and also the terminal ribs such as 41, 48 and 48a form an inclined section, similar to the frustum of a cone, the angle of which corresponds substantially to the angle of the inclined section I5 of the casing II. Each rib terminates on top in a radially inwardly extending surface, thus likewise following the configuration of the casing-inside thereof. The outer rim of each ball socket may project slightly upwardly, as indicated in connection with the ball sockets 40 and 43 at 55-56 (Figs. 1 and 5). There are thus six ball sockets and in each is disposed a metal ball, as shown. Suitable slugs or the like may be used in place of the balls. The upwardly projecting rims such as 55-56 hold the balls in the associated sockets in their normal position mounting member may be longitudinally slotted,

dially outwardly extending enlargement 38. The a shank with itsradially inwardly extending flange 36 projects to the outside of the housing through the opening II. This operating member may be made of any suitable and desired material, preferably a light-weight synthetic material,

e. g., a suitable phenol condensation product,

Bakelite or the like.

The enlargement 38 is provided with a number of ball sockets, e. g., six sockets, such as indicated at 4043, separated by radially extending ribs or ridges such as -46. The ball sockets 4 I-42 terminate in similar ribs 41-48 which define a recess 9. This recess is radially slotted for accommodating the screw 21. The screw 28 is accommodated in a radial slot provided in a similar recess 180 removed from the slotted recess 49. Underneath each slotted recess 49 is a larger recess, as indicated at 50-5I. In the assembled device, the recesses 50-5l lie above and axially in alignment with the screw sockets 2I-22 projecting from the disk-like mounting member I4, and the recesses 49 lie below and axially in alignment with the screw sockets or bosses I8-I9 formed in the inclined wall I5 of the casing II. The operating member is axially movable. In its normal position, as shown in Fig. 4, the screw sockets I8-I9 are accommodated in the recesses 49, and in its operated position, as shown in Fig. 5, the screw sockets 2I-22 (assuming the arrangement Figs. 2-5.) are accommodated in the recesses 50-5I, respectively.

and thus facilitate the assembling of the balls with and placing them in their sockets in the operating member incident to the assembling of the device. The operating member is biased and held in its normal or inoperative position in which it is shown in Figs.'2, 3 and 4 by a spring 60, one end of which engages a radially inwardly projecting shoulder'formed by the flange 36 inside thereof and the other end of which surrounds the tubular extension 20 andrests on the disk-like mounting member I4. The home or normal position of the balls disposed intheir sockets in the enlargement 38 of the operating member 35 with respect to theinsideof the angularly extending wall I5 of the casing II corresponds approximately to the relationship shown in diagram I of Fig. 6. The, arrangement may be such that the balls lie in the curved section of the casing wall where the incline d wall I5merges with the radially inwardly projecting wall portion l6, as shown in Fig. 6, diagram I, or it may be such that the balls are in normal position free of either or both of easing wall portions I5 and l6. The centrifugal force acting on the balls when the device is rotated is indicated in Fig. 6, diagram I, by the arrow. 7 Suitably disposed at the'operating end of the embodiment of the governor shown in the drawings is'the switching means which is assumed to comprise three contact springs 65, 66 and 61. Each spring is" forked, carrying at its free end two spring blades or branches each provided with a contact. Thus the spring 61 is forked as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3 at68, carrying two blades or branches 69, each branch provided with a contact such as 10. The springs 66 and 65 are similarly formed, carrying the contacts H and 12, re-

spectively. The fork-like extensions of the spring 65 are crimped as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 and the crimped"portions rest on the radially extending annular face formed'by the flange 36 of the operating member.

I It may be remarked here that the operating member may be made'of metal, if desired, and die-cast and, inasmuch as means is required in the assumed use of the governor to insulate the operating member electrically from the contact spring branches projecting or forking from spring 65, an insulating insert may be provided in the annular face of thefiange 36 It is also possible to make the operating member of metal and to provide the forked extensions of the spring 65 with suitable insulating plates.

In normal position, in which the device is shown in Figs. 1- 4,.inclusiv.e, the operating member is biased axially outwardly by the pressure of the spring 60' and therefore presses outwardly and against the branches or blades of the'contact acme" switch spring 65, holding the contacts I! in engagement with the contacts H carried by the forked blades or branches which project from the switch spring'sfi, thus conductively connect in the springs 65 and 66. The contacts Hi of switch spring '61 are separated from the contacts H on the forked extensions of the spring 06 by the action of insulating nipples 13 one mounted in known manner on each of the extensions of the spring 65 and projecting through an opening in the associated branch extending from spring 6Q.

If it is assumed that the operating member is retracted axially, from the normal position in which it is shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, it will be clearthat spring 65 and its forked branches will follow the retractile movement, with the. result that the contacts 12 and H separate while the contacts 16 engage and make connection with contacts H. This accomplishes the previously mentioned switching function of the device, transferring the circuit of the motor from contact springs -66--65 to springs 6'l--66 or, in other words, switching the motor from the starting to the running circuit.

The operation, more in detail, is as follows:

When the rotating member on which the governor is mounted, e. g., the member in Fig. 2 or member 26 in Fig. 3, begins to rotate, centrifugal force manifests itself, which tends to move the balls radially outwardly in the direction of the arrow, as shown in diagram I in Fig. 6. Bunching of the balls is prevented by the ridges which confine them radially. As the speed of the rotating member increases, the centrifugal force increases and the balls are forced to move along the inside of the angularly extending wall l5 of the casing H, thereby axially displacing the operating member against the pressure of the spring 60, from the position shown in Fig. 4 to that indicated in Fig. 5. The operating member is thus axially retracted, actuating the switch springs, as previously described, and switching the circuit of the motor from the contact switch springs 66-45 to the running circuit which includes the springs 61-66. The coiled spring of the governor is now compressed. The bottom of the operating member or, rather, the bottomv of the enlargement 36 thereof is in engagement with the inside surface of the disk-like mounting memher M. The screw sockets 21-22 of the disk- .like mounting member (assuming the full line arrangement of Fig. 4) are now accommodated within the recesses 50-5l, respectively.

The operating'member has thusmovedfrom its inoperative or static position shown in Fig. 4, in which its angularly extending radial ribs are accommodated within the angularly extending wall of the casing, to its operated position in which the enlargement 38 engages the surface of the disk-like mounting member M. The operating member 35 is guided in its axial motion from normal to operated position by the shanks of the screws 2l-28; that is to say, the operating member is rotatable with the governor housing and with the rotating member, but is axially movable within the housing, as described. It moves from one extreme position to the other, always into engagement with the inside walls of the casing'or with the mounting member l4, respectively, the indentations formed by the screw sockets or bosses in the casing and in the mounting member being accommodated in the recesses formed in the enlargement 38.

The slope l5 of the conical or inclined section sensitivity at low speed. In other words, assuming the curvature is approximately as shown in diagram II, the balls will quickly respond at low Y speed, but beyond a. certain point the centrifugal ill response will be sluggish and the operating member' will be retracted slowly and progressively until a maximum speed is attained at which time the movable members, i. e., the balls, are in their terminal positions.

It may be desirable to obtain an action which in a sense is the reverse ofthejust described, that is to say; to provide for an action which is less sensitive at low speeds, furnishing a transition in the form of a snap action when a certain higher speed is attained. This may be accomplished by providing the casing wall with a curvature approximately as indicated in diagram III, Fig. 6. The curve of the casing wall in the critical section thereof is a composite or stepped curve.

furnishing a cam-like action. It will be seen that the centrifugal force imparted to the balls in the direction of the arrow shown in diagram III wiil have a relatively small operative effect at low speeds; that. is, the device will be less sensitive at low speeds, but after the transition point between the two curves forming the composite curve has been passed the governor will "be extremely sensitive and, as the critical speed is exceeded, the balls will move in a snap action quickly radi ally outwardly to their extreme terminal positions, and will correspondingly move the. operating member axially into. its actuated position. providing a snap switch action for the switchin contacts at a predetermined speedof the rotating vided with an axially projecting rim 55a.

member.

The above described operations may also be obtained by the use of a simple cup-like casin provided with a substantially uniform or straight angularly extending wall which forms the sliding surface for the balls and coasting with an axially movable or slidable operating memberv provided with ball socketsso constructed and arranged as to furnish the desired centrifugal response of the balls. Suitable structures are diagrammatically indicated in Fig. 7'. 7

Diagram iv in Fig. '7 shows part of the radially outwardly extending flange 38c oi the operating member substantially as shown in the previously discussed embodiments. Each. ball socket is pro- The casing wall I5a forms a straight angularly extending .slidesurface lie for the associated balls. when the device rotates, the balls move by centrifugal force radially outwardly as described before. In the embodiment shown in diagram IV. the centrifugal response of the balls will be sensitive at low speeds and. somewhat retarded at higher speeds. displacing the op rating member correspondingly until the balls reach terminal position which will correspond approximately to the position of the balls shown in Fig. v5. The action,. will beusimilar to the oneobtainediby the structure made in accordance with diagram II, Fig. 6. i

The bottom of each ball socket may also be curved, as indicated in diagram if, in which case the centrifugal response of the balls will be sluggish at low speeds, similar to the response obtained in the embodiment diagram III, Fig. 6, providing a snap action at .a predetermined tively. The governor m changeable.

responsive to the speed-ofrotation of the rotating member. I

The bottom of each ball socket mayalso be formed so as to provide for anoperation similar to the one obtainedin the embodiment Figs. 1

to that is to say, the bottom of each ball socket may be inclined, are desired angle, from the normal or horneiposition of the associated ball in a substantially straight line so as, to furnish progressive and substantially-uniform. centrifugal response. in accordance with progressively increasing'speed. r L

It is understood, of course, that the operating members shown in diagrams IV to VI are axially biased in a manner similar to the one discussed in connection with Figs. 1 to 5. The radiallyoutwardly extending enlargements of .the operating members shown in the diagrams IV to VI or,

rather to say, the .ribs forming the'ball-sockets, such as-the rib 45a,'may'be of suitable depth. They maystop short of the inside surface-of the angularly extending casing wall section 16a, as shown in the diagrams;

It will be noted that thecurves shown in diagrams IV to VI provide for a low normal orhome position of the balls into whichthe balls move by the action of the biasing spring, such as spring 60 shown in Figs. 4 and 5-, upon cessation-of-rotation of the rotating member on which the governor is mounted. In thepresence of diminishing speed, the balls "move partiallyto home position.

The angle of'each section of the curves shown in .Fig. '7 may be'as desired or required. The casing wall |6a may be provided with a curve corresponding to the curve-in the'flange .380, of its associatedoperatin'gmember shown in diagrams IV to VI. The diameterlof the balls is, in such case, correspondingly. larger; that is, it fills the space between the home positions of the curves in the casing wall 16a and in'the flange 38a, respecay be mounted in any desired position. The biasing springis chosen to provide the pressure which is desired or necessary for any given purpose.

Each part may be standardized and made inter- Casings and operating-members may be made and carried in stock, conforming to different requirements-e. g.-, such as diagrammatically shown in Figs. 6 and-"7, each part interchangeable f'or"the'other and each for coaction with the reversible mounting member which in turn adapts the governor for use with different rotating members whose speed is to be governed L or, as the case may be, utilized for predetermined control, signalling or other purposes. Each part has been designed with a view-to facilitate manufacture as well as assemblyof the unit and to provide for reliable operationunde r widely varying operating conditions.

' Changes may be made within the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

Iclaiirit, 1. As a unitary commercial article of manufacture, a centrifugal governor for selective removable attachment as a unit to a rotatable body for coaction with control means which govern the speed of rotation of said rotatable body, said governor comprising a generally circular generally cup-shaped shell-like casing member forming at one end a, generally axially extending openended wall portion and at the other end a generally radially inwardly extending end wall portion, a generally circular disklike end plate member associated edgewise with said open-ended wall portion of said cup-shaped shell-like casing member and extending radially inwardly therefrom and forming a unitary housing therewith for selective removable attachment to said rotatable body for rotation with such rotatable body, the side wall of said casing member sloping angularly inwardly and merging with said generally radially inwardly extending end wall portion thereof, said end wall portion of said casing forming a centrally. disposed opening, an operating element axially movably disposed within said housing, means for holding said operating element against rotation relative to said housing, said operating element forming at the end which faces the inside wall of. said disklike end plate member a, generally radially outwardly directed annular portion from which extends centrally axially solely toward the end wall portion of said casing a tubular shank with its free end projecting through the central opening therein for coaction with said control means,- said tubular shank forming near its free end a radially inwardly directed shoulder, a coiled compression spring disposed within said tubular shank; one end of said spring being in engagement withisaid shoulder and the other end thereof being in engagement with the inside wall of said end plate member to bias said operating element in normal position relative to said housing with its-annular portion axially away from the inside wall of said end plate member and with an appreciable portion of said shank protruding from the central opening in the end wall of said casing, and actuating bodies within said housing which respond to centrifugal force responsive to rotation of the rotatable body to which said governor is attached, said bodies coacting with the annular portion of said operating element and with the inwardly sloping side wall of said casing to effect axial inward retraction of said operating element for the purpose of moving the shank thereof axially inwardly to cause operative actuation of the control means associated therewith.

' 2. The structure defined in claim 1, wherein said disklike end plate member forms a centrally disposed normally axially inwardly directed tubular extension, the end of said compression spring which is in engagement with the inside .wall of said end plate surrounding said tubular extension.

3. The structure defined in claim 1, wherein said disklike end plate member forms a centrally disposed axially projecting tubular extension, said end plate member being reversible for selectively positioning said tubular extension to project either axially inwardly or axially outwardly. 4. The structure defined in claim 1, together with fastening members connected with said casing member and with said disklike end plate member, each fastening member extending through a recess formed in the radially outwardly directed annular portion of said operating element, said fastening members constituting the means for holding said operating element against rotation relative to said housing.

5. As a unitary commercial article of manufacture, a centrifugal governor for selective removable attachment as a unit to a rotatable body for coaction with control means which govern the speed of rotation of said rotatable body, said governor comprising a generally circular generally cup-shaped shell-like casing member forming at one end a generally axially extending openended wall portion and at the other end a generally radially inwardly extending end wall portion, a generally circular disklike end plate member associated edgewise with said openended wall portion of said cup-shaped shell-like casing member and extending radially inwardly therefrom and forming a unitary housing therewith for selective removable attachment to said rotatable body for rotation with such rotatable body, the side wall of said casing member sloping angularly inwardly and merging with said generally radially inwardly extending end wall portion thereof, said end wall portion of said casing forming a centrally disposed opening and said disklike end plate member forming a centrally disposed normally axially inwardly projecting tubular extension, an operating element axially movably disposed within said housing, said operating element forming at the end which faces the inside wall of said end plate member a generally radially outwardly directed annular portion from which extends centrally axially solely toward the end wall portion of said casing a tubular shank with its free end projecting through the central opening therein for coaction with said control means, fastening members connected with said casing member and with said disklike end plate member, each fastening mem-- ber extending through a recess formed in the radially outwardly directed annular portion of said operating element to hold said element against rotation relative to said housing, said tubular shank forming near its free end a radially inwardly directed shoulder, a coiled compression spring disposed within said tubular shank, one end of said spring being in engagement with said shoulder and the other end thereof surrounding the tubular normally inwardly projecting extension formed by said disklike end plate member and being in engagement with the inside Wall of said end plate member to bias said operating element in normal position relative to said housing with its annular portion axially away from the inside Wall of said end plate member and with an appreciable portion of said shank protruding from the central opening in the end Wall of said casing, and actuating bodies within said housing which respond to centrifugal force responsive to rotation of the rotatable body to which said governor is attached, said bodies coaoting with the annular portion of said operating element and with the inwardly sloping side wall of said casing to efiect axial inward retraction of said operating element for the purpose of moving the shank thereof axially inwardly to cause operative actuation of the control means associated therewith, said disklike end plate member being reversible to dispose the central tubular extension thereof selectively to project axially outwardly thereof.

STANLEY WALLACE.

REFERENCES CITED lhe followiros references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,105,408 Decham'ps July 28, 1914 1,135,054 Schacht Apr. 13, 1915 1,257,918 Noack Feb. 26, 1918 1,777,354 Dina Oct. 7, 1930 1,910,245 Harrelson May 23, 1933 1,976,598 Boothby Oct. 9, 1934 2,055,303 Patterson Sept. 22, 1936 2,088,427 Maurer July 27, 1937 2,157,542 Kieser May 9, 1939 2,187,207 McCabe Jan. 16, 1940 2,341,624 Kieser Feb. 15, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 379,068 Germany Aug. 15, 1923 420,429 Germany Oct. 23, 1925 

